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Why Should Rugby Fans Support Bordeaux? Joey Carbery Explains
Nov 13, 2024
Joey Carberry explains why American rugby fans should support his team, UBB Rugby, in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup.
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- 100 Best Rugby Players In The World: Here's The Full List
UBB Results In Top 14 In 2024-2025 Season
Bordeaux got some revenge earlier this fall with a head-to-head win in a 2024 Top 14 Final rematch, but after nine rounds, they were trailing Toulouse in the Top 14 table.
Still, UBB is second, and though the team didn't beat Toulouse with Antoine Dupont, UBB, the No. 4 professional team in the world, not only is a Top 14 favorite, but a Champions Cup favorite this season.
What Did UBB Rugby Do In The Champions Cup In 2023-2024?
UBB Rugby played in perhaps one of the greatest Champions Cup matches seen in recent years but was on the wrong end of a 42-41 match with Harlequins in the quarterfinals.
With 15 minutes left in the match, UBB led 36-35, before two tries in the final 10 minutes. Bordeaux trailed 35-22 at the 58-minute mark but scored 14 points in just six minutes.
UBB went 3-1 in and won Pool 1 last season.
Has UBB Rugby Ever Won The Champions Cup?
Only around since 2006, Bordeaux has never advanced to the Champions Cup Final.
Who Is The UBB Rugby Coach?
Yannick Bru is the head coach of Union Bordeaux-Begles. He was hired before the 2023 season when he was an assistant for the Hollywoodbets Sharks. Before that, he was the head coach of Bayonne from 2018-2022.
Where Does UBB Rugby Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?
Bordeaux is ranked No. 4 in the FloRugby rankings.
Who Are The Highest Ranked FloRugby Players On The UBB Rugby Roster?
Here are all the UBB players in the FloRugby Top 100 Player Rankings:
- Damian Penaud – Bordeaux-Begles & France (No. 8)
- Louis Bielle-Biarrey – Bordeaux-Begles & France (No. 72)
Where Does UBB Rugby Play?
Union Bordeaux-Begles play in Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux.
When Does UBB Rugby Play In The Investec Championship Cup?
Here is the Union Bordeaux-Begles' Champions Cup schedule:
UBB Vs. Leicester Tigers Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Leicester Tigers, 8 a.m. ET, Dec 8, 2024, Stade Chaban-Delmas
Ulster Vs. UBB Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Ulster Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 10:15 a.m. ET, Dec. 14, 2024, Kingspan Stadium
Exeter Chiefs Vs. UBB Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, Sandy Park
UBB Vs. Sharks Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, 8 a.m. ET, Jan. 19, 2025, Stade Chaban-Delmas
How To Watch UBB Rugby Play In The Investec Champions Cup
Every Bordeaux match in the Investec Champions Cup is streaming live in the United States and Canada on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Pincipality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Champions Cup Qualifications
Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:
- United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.
Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers
- TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne
- GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers
- UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks
EPCR Challenge Cup Format
Key points for the 2024-2025 EPCR Challenge Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 18 clubs in three pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the knockout stage
- Eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday, May 23
EPCR Challenge Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 EPCR Challenge Cup final – Principality Stadium, Cardiff; Friday, May 23
EPCR Challenge Cup Qualifiers
Clubs from the United Rugby Championship, the TOP 14 and the Gallagher Premiership that have not qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup will compete in the 2024-2025 EPCR Challenge Cup.
If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup will secure a place in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup, replacing the eighth-ranked club in its league.
EPCR Challenge Cup Qualifiers
- UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Ospreys, Emirates Lions, Edinburgh Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets, Dragons RFC, Zebre Parma
- TOP 14 – Section Paloise, USAP, Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Aviron Bayonnais, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, RC Vannes
- GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Falcons
- INVITED – Black Lion, Toyota Cheetahs
When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends on Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4.
The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
What Are The Investec Champions Cup And EPCR Challenge Cup Pools?
Here are the pools:
Investec Champions Cup:
- Toulouse (Stade Toulousain)
- Bordeaux-Bègles (Union Bordeaux-Bègles)
- Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Exeter Chiefs
- Leicester Tigers
- Ulster Rugby
Pool 2:
- Leinster Rugby
- Clermont Auvergne (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
- La Rochelle (Stade Rochelais)
- Bristol Bears
- Benetton Rugby
- Bath Rugby
Pool 3:
- Northampton Saints
- Munster Rugby
- Vodacom Bulls
- Stade Français Paris
- Saracens
- Castres Olympique
Pool 4:
- Glasgow Warriors
- Racing 92
- Sale Sharks
- DHL Stormers
- Toulon (RC Toulon)
- Harlequins
EPCR Challenge Cup
Pool 1:
- Cardiff Rugby
- Connacht Rugby
- Toyota Cheetahs
- Perpignan (USAP)
- Lyon Olympique Universitaire (Lyon O.U.)
- Zebre Parma
Pool 2:
- Montpellier Hérault Rugby
- Pau (Section Paloise)
- Newcastle Falcons
- Dragons RFC
- Emirates Lions
- Ospreys
Pool 3:
- RC Vannes
- Black Lion
- Bayonne (Aviron Bayonnais)
- Scarlets
- Edinburgh Rugby
- Gloucester Rugby
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.
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